Regulated and significant trees

Native vegetation

In the City of Onkaparinga, the state government’s native vegetation legislation applies, and can take precedence to regulated and significant trees. Generally, the native vegetation legislation needs to be considered first and the relevant authority is the Native Vegetation Unit/Council within the Department for Environment and Water (DEW). If the vegetation is exempt from needing clearance approval under the Native Vegetation Act and Regulations, then the regulated and significant tree provisions of the The Planning and Design Code may apply (not both).

Note that Native Vegetation Act clearance approval may be required for some tree clearance close to dwellings, including circumstances exempt from The Planning and Design Code, such as trees within 3m, or trees within 20m within medium or high bushfire risk areas (where a CFS report may also be required). For any questions about Native Vegetation Act clearance, please contact:

Native Vegetation Council
GPO Box 1047
Adelaide 5001 SA
Phone: (08) 8303 9777
Email: nvc@sa.gov.au

Website: https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/about-us/boards-and-committees/native-vegetation-council

Regulated and significant trees

A regulated tree is any single trunk tree with a circumference of 1 metre or more - when measured 1 metre above natural ground level or where it has multiple trunks with a total circumference of 1 metre or more and an average circumference of 310 millimetres or more – when measured at 1 metre above natural ground level.

A significant tree is any single trunk tree with a circumference of 2 metres or more measured at a point 1 metre above natural ground level or where it has multiple trunks with a total circumference of 2 metres or more and an average circumference of 625 millimetres or more when measured 1 metre above natural ground level.

Some trees may be exempt from regulated and significant tree controls either because of their location or their species.

Regulated and significant trees must not be damaged without development approval. Tree damaging activities include:

  • removal
  • killing or destruction
  • ringbarking, topping or lopping
  • severing of branches, limbs, stems or trunk
  • any other substantial damage to a tree including its root system.

Maintenance pruning does not require development approval if:

  • it is not likely to affect adversely the general health and appearance of a tree
  • it does not remove more than 30% of the crown of the tree and it is required to remove dead or diseased wood, or to remove branches that pose a material risk to a building or areas frequently used by people.

For more information, including exemptions to these controls, please read the FAQ Sheet  from the Plan SA  or contact our Development Services staff on 08 8384 0666.

Please go to Plan SA Portals lodge an application if you wish to apply to remove or damage a regulated or significant tree.

Back to top